Can a dog help you build resilience?

Dogs. They love you unconditionally, they are always happy to see you, and they give the best puppy kisses. But can they make you more resilient?

One of my favorite podcasts is "The Happiness Lab" with Dr. Laurie Santos. She is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and taught their most popular class of all time - The Science of Well-Being.

I have always been a dog lover, and as the mom of two fur babies of my own (I call them my therapy dogs), I thought the answer to this question was a no-brainer. It turns out that yes, dogs can improve our well-being IF we, the dog owners, raise them correctly.

And the best news is that you don’t even need to have your own dog!

You can hang out with any pooch. Here are 5 ways Fido can improve your well-being:

1. Exercise

Dogs like walks, and it turns out that walks are good for people too. Dog owners tend to exercise more consistently and frequently because they take regular walks with their dog. This gets you outside in nature, moving, and caring for your pup. Taking a walk with your dog after work has been found to be a fantastic stress reliever. And dog owners are four times more likely to meet their weekly minimum exercise requirement of 150 minutes. You might not feel like going on a walk, but your pup gives you a reason to do it anyway.

2. Mindfulness

What would a dog do? If you want to know how to stay in the present moment and practice mindfulness, just ask your dog. This practice is twofold. Think about it...dogs are naturally curious, sniffing and exploring their environment, 100% present in whatever they are doing. And when your dog licks your face to wake you up, puts his/her head on your lap, or nudges you to pet him/her, you are snapped back to the present moment. If you allow yourself to really pay attention to your pup, this can help you stay in the moment.

Secondly, when we snuggle, whether an animal or a person, a chemical called oxytocin is released. This is the "cuddle hormone" that bonds a mother and child. Oxytocin is actually a stress hormone that causes us to seek connection. It helps reset your nervous system because your brain knows you are safe if you’re snuggling.

3. Social Connection

Dogs are the best icebreakers. "Oh, your dog is so cute! What type of dog is it?" Aside from being a great pick up line, dogs create social connection. You are more likely to start chatting with a random stranger when they have a cute pooch, and it turns out that socializing dogs helps us socialize too. Social connection is the greatest predictor of long-term happiness and how long you’ll live, so take your dog to the park and make connections with others.

4. Training

I love my dogs (an unhealthy amount), but they are horribly trained. When I call Bernie, he looks at me, thinks about it for a second, and then is almost guaranteed to go in the complete opposite direction. Both dogs have trained me instead of the other way around. If you have a dog that is well-behaved, calm, and enjoyable to be around, they are likely to positively impact your well-being.

Bernie is my therapy dog, and Charlie is the reason I need therapy. While cute and adorable, he is definitely a high maintenance dog, and it can put a strain on your energy, time, and even relationships. This is where the responsibility of the dog owner comes into play to raise them correctly! Do as I say, not as I do. ;-)

5. Purpose

Dogs give us a sense of purpose and an incredible opportunity to practice empathy. Our pups need us to feed them, walk them, spend time with them, and give them love. And when a dog hurts or is afraid, the connection you have with your dog offers an incredible opportunity to practice compassion and empathy. Many people will do things for their dogs that they don’t even do for themselves.

If you want to get more tips to improve your happiness and well-being, check out?The Happiness Lab?podcast or sign up for Laurie’s Yale course for?free.

Stay brave and resilient,

Anne

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